Jon Stewart, Sean Hannity trade barbs

The latest tiff between Stewart and Hannity blew up Tuesday after the "Daily Show" host told Rolling Stone that Hannity is "probably the most loathsome dude" at Fox News. “That’s just pure cynicism, and it’s horrible," Stewart said of Hannity's program. "Everything is presented in as devious a manner as it could possibly be presented.”

Stewart also said that he has no interest in having Hannity on his show, although he admitted that he “probably should” and that “it would be interesting.”

Reached by email, Hannity told POLITICO that Stewart should stick to reading jokes.

"Nearly 50 million Americans on food stamps, nearly 50 million in poverty, the lowest labor participation rate since 1978, and Jon's beloved president who once said George Bush's debt was 'irresponsible and unpatriotic' has almost accumulated more debt then every other President before him combined," Hannity wrote. "Do I even need to remind him about keeping our doctors, our health plans and saving money? And how is that healthcare website working out? Or Iraq, Isis, the 'Russian reset'?"

"Jon's problem is he has his head so far up Obama's ass he cannot see clearly, he is obviously better suited to reading his joke writers material, and making his clapping seal audience happy," Hannity continued.

"I await another Rally to Restore Sanity with Fatwah supporter Cat Stevens!!" he said, referring to the event that Stewart and Stephen Colbert hosted in Washington, D.C., in 2010.

Stewart and Hannity have traded barbs before, and Stewart often targets Fox News in his "Daily Show" segments. But while Stewart had harsh words for Hannity, he showed fellow Fox News host Bill O’Reilly some love.

“It’s more sexual tension than anything else,” Stewart said of his relationship with O’Reilly. “I think he’s a great broadcaster. I think he understands his audience, though I think it’s sometimes to the detriment of his audience.”

He continued, “I think he comes by his views honestly. I can’t say I find him to be disingenuous. I just think that, in general, the right has moved so far out in that direction" that O’Reilly "appears to be almost a Kennedy Democrat by this point.”

In regard to Fox News’ unbeatable ratings, Stewart attributed them to the “very homogenous block of viewers” that the station attracts.